Comparison of spine posture, mobility and body image perception in healthy and primary dysmenorrhea women

The aim of this study was to compare spinal posture, spinal mobility, and body image perception in healthy women and women with Primary Dysmenorrhea (PD). A total of 120 women, 57 of whom were healthy and 63 of whom had PD, were included in the study. Questionnaires were applied to determine the physical and demographic characteristics of the participants. The Visual Analog Scale was used to determine the pain intensity experienced by the participants during menstruation, and the Spinal Mouse was used to measure their spinal posture and mobility. While their attitudes towards menstruation were evaluated with the Menstruation Attitude Scale, the Menstruation Symptom Scale was used to determine menstruation symptoms. The physical activity levels of the participants were determined with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, and their body image perceptions were determined with the Body Image Scale. In our study, it was found that women with PD experienced more pain during menstruation than healthy women (p<0.001). Sacrum-hip angle (p=0.005), inclination angle (p=0.014) were found lower in the PD group compared to the healthy group while women are doing maximum trunk flexion. Also the mobility of these regions ((p=0.006), (p=0.001)) were found lower in the PD group compared to the healthy group. It was found that the menstrual symptoms of women with PD were more severe (p<0.001) and their attitudes towards menstruation were more negative (p=0.013, p=0.003, p=0.034, p=0.023, p<0.001, p<0.001). Physical activity levels (p=0.294) and body image perceptions of women with and without PD were similar (p=0.225). In this study, it was determined that the spinal posture and mobility of women with PD were negatively different from those of healthy women, and they approache to menstruation cognitively worse. We think that, these results may be important to determine an individualized treatment program for women with PD.